Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for the warm welcome here, and your professionalism; I appreciate it. I mean that very sincerely.
I want to speak to the motion of my esteemed colleague, Madame Freeman, by saying that rather than have the law clerk of Parliament come before the committee, rather than that, what should happen is that the committee could actually accomplish the goals it set out. It wants to hear from the Prime Minister's Office with respect to practices and procedures, with respect to access to information.
I think you're well aware, Mr. Chair, that the government House leader made a statement in the House acknowledging that our government fully recognizes the authority of parliamentary committees to call for persons or papers as they carry out their work. However, ministers are accountable and answerable to Parliament for government policies, decisions, and operations, and ministerial staff are accountable to their ministers. If anything, there is an attempt, I think, to strengthen accountability by having ministers take full responsibility for the actions of the members of their political staff in their office.
As you're well aware, and as you've mentioned, Mr. Chair, the Prime Minister sent a letter to the clerk of the committee on June 1, saying that he's pleased to assist the committee in its work. As you know, prime ministers don't normally appear before parliamentary committees. The Prime Minister has asked me to appear before this committee and to answer any and all questions that members may have with respect to the study they are undertaking.
I am keen and enthusiastic to answer all questions that any member of the committee would have--